SIR: Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi, the departed Alaafin of Oyo was everything woven into one. He was regal. He was ebullient. He was dazzling. He was commanding. He had an exciting personality, garnished with tremendous and unmatchable carriage. He was a monarch with an enviable panache; no wonder he attracted women like bees. He was a self-confident man, with a visible royal sagacity as well as large dose of admirable courage, guts and wits. Nothing, under surface of earth ruffles him.
You could be with Oba Adeyemi for a whole day without getting bored. Indeed, when your time is up with him despite the long hours he might have given you, you would be tempted to go the way of Oliver Twist; appealing for more time on account of very illuminating and revealing session you might have had with him.
He always had diverse issues for discussion – the evolution of Nigeria nation, Nigerian political trajectory, the amazing and very impressive history of Yorubas, the genesis of Oyo empires, the adventures of imperialists’ lords in African continent, the traditional institution, his journeys across the globe to propagate African cultures and traditions and many other more. And these he usually did with amazing dexterity and aplomb. Alaafin Adeyemi was indeed a special breed!
More than any other monarch before him, Alaafin Adeyemi succeeded in attracting uncommon visibility to Oyo kingdom with his developmental and progressive ideals and philosophies coupled with his deep knowledge and understanding of Yoruba traditions and cultures, discerning mind, providing solutions to very thorny issues, perfect understanding of situations, matched with uncanny wisdom and tact.
Alaafin is generally referred to as custodian of Yoruba cultures and traditions. He’s also an indisputable repertoire of knowledge on diverse issues. It’s an understatement to submit that he brought enormous glamour, respect and dignity to Alaafin throne.
Very instructively, his 52 years on throne heralded modernity into Oyo kingdom. Oyo has grown in leaps and bounds over decades on account of his visions & dreams for the kingdom.
This is therefore a clarion call to Oyomesi led by High Chief Yussuf Akinade Ayoola that as we mourn and at the same time celebrate the death of our legendary and globally respected monarch, it’s incumbent on them to be circumspect, discerning, steadfast and be firm in selecting a new Alaafin who will be apolitical, and also imbued with wisdom and tact, serves as a rallying point, of course, respected figure, educated and cerebral and the one who will uphold the tenets of Oyo kingdom cultures, traditions, values and ethics as Alaafin Adeyemi did.
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Kola Amzat, Lagos.